by Gloria Bevan
Shyly Robyn acknowledged the applause of the onlookers, then David was drawing Maria forward, saying how fortunate was the new Pacific Islander Motel in having obtained her services. In his easy effortless way he went on to say he hoped everyone would enjoy the evening of feasting and dancing, Fijian-style. There was too a special performance to be held tonight, perhaps the strangest and most mysterious ceremony of the islands. Tonight the firewalkers were arriving by outrigger canoes from their island of Beqa to give a performance of the ancient ritual in the old pits a short distance away. Meantime, he was pleased to begin proceedings with the traditional drink of welcome. At that moment the pounding beat of a lali drum cut across the booming of the surf as flower-bedecked Islanders came out of the shadows to place on the tables great wooden bowls filled with Yaqona.
David passed Robyn a glass of the liquid and as their eyes met she wrenched her glance away, tried to smile. "Would you mind if I went back to my place at the end of the table?"
"I'll take you Almost he appeared to be disappointed, but that was absurd. Why should he mind, when he had Maria at his side? There was, however, no doubt about Kevin's delight on finding her seated once more beside him.
When the welcoming ceremony was over, bowls of steaming island delicacies were carried in — prawns in coconut cream, baked dalo, rourou and Indian curries. They were followed by mounds of tropical fruit, paw-paw, passion fruit, mangoes, bananas. Robyn nibbled a wedge of freshly sliced pineapple and tried to concentrate on what her companion was saying, but in spite of herself her gaze strayed back to David and Maria at the adjoining table.
As the island dinner drew to a close, the idle strumming of
guitars quickened and out of the darkness filed a group of Fijian dancers. Their flying skirts of dyed coconut fibre glowed in the flickering lights of flaring torches as men and girls moved in time with the infectious rhythm.
When they fell back, drums beat out a wild tattoo and the next moment tall stately Fijian warriors leaped and chanted, raising their pointed spears in the wild stamping of a native war dance.
Then as the ferocious movements came to an end, guitars once more took up their lazy rhythm and gradually diners moved from the tables to join the swaying Fijian dancers under a canopy of stars.
Thankfully Robyn got to her feet and went with Kevin. She had no wish that David should approach her in a duty-dance. Let him dance with his Maria, she thought angrily. She'd get over this ... this madness, of course she would! All she needed was a little time — and a chance to escape from his nearness. She forced herself to smile and chat, anything to prove to him how happy and carefree she was with her tall young escort.
One of the members of the party of air crew was her next partner and she took the opportunity of asking the air pilot if he knew Pam, as they moved over the dry grass. Was the other girl still on the Fiji route?
"Not for much longer," he told her. At the end of the month she was changing over to the London—Singapore air route. He didn't know why she had applied for a transfer. She'd seemed quite taken up with Fiji for a time, then all of a sudden she never wanted to see the place again! According to the grapevine she'd got tangled up with some guy in the islands. Shrugging his shoulders, he grinned towards Robyn. "You know how it is, or do you? Pacific moon ... soft warm nights . . . only sometimes it doesn't last."
Robyn felt a sharp disappointment that she wouldn't be seeing the other girl again. Pam was someone she would have liked very much to have as a friend, a real friend. Now all such thoughts were out of the question. If only Johnny — At that moment she caught sight of him. At least, someone who looked like Johnny was emerging from a short cut through the palms. Then he paused in the shadows and all but obscured by growing bushes, she realised that a slight figure stood beside him. He'd come after all, and brought Noeline with him! With a murmured excuse to her partner, Robyn fled, hurrying over the grass towards the two on the edge of the darkness.
When she reached the other two, excitement coloured her tones. "I knew you'd get here if you could ! Did you get my message? I left it with the Yacht Club, but they told me you were away on a cruise and they didn't now when you'd be back. How did you come? How long can you stay —?"
"Hey, hold it!" Johnny stemmed the eager flow. "We just called in to see you, actually —"
"Oh, but you must stay. Look, there's dancing ... soon the firewalkers are coming. You remember the old pits? They're still here, and David —" She broke off abruptly.
"Would just love to see me? Was that what you were going to say? Well, don't trouble yourself. He's got no time for me, never has had, and I feel the same way about him. I don't have to spell it out, do I? Tell you what — I'll have some definite news for him in a fortnight's time. It won't hurt him any to wait that long. That's an offer, Rob, just two weeks and I'll let him in my plans — definitely. Is that good enough for you?"
She said very low, "He's waited a long time already for you to turn up. You said when the place was in working order you'd be —"
"Hey, whose side are you on? Do you know what I think, Rob? I think you're way over in the enemy camp ! All this concern for Kinnear. He can look after himself, believe me, and if you'll take a little brotherly advice, I'd say to keep well clear of him." She caught the teasing note in his voice. "I'm not too late, am I? Don't tell me you're just like all the others? You've fallen for that easy charm of his?"
All the others? Swiftly she jerked herself back to some sort
of composure. "Don't be stupid, Johnny ! It's just that —" "Just that you're the world's worst worrier! Well, let it go at that. You think so, Noeline?"
Robyn glancing towards the other girl, caught her nod, the secret smile playing around the thin lips. They were both against her. Suddenly she knew it was hopeless trying to persuade Johnny to accept his responsibilities. Perhaps he was even coming around to her way of thinking in some strange odd way of his own. She had a suspicion the other two were planning to put into action some arrangement in connection with the motel. If only it wasn't the obvious solution that she was trying to thrust to the back of her mind.
"We've gotta get weaving," Johnny was saying. "Just called in to ask you to pass on the word to Kinnear to hold his horses — and to give you an invitation."
"To what?"
It was Noeline who answered, and Robyn found herself wondering at the note of suppressed excitement in the light tones. "It's Mum and Dad, they're putting on a party for me at the hotel next Saturday week. Just a little family celebration at the Lodge in Suva. Think you could come along, and bring David Kinnear too? Dad's thinking of getting into the land promotion game," she ran on before Robyn could answer. "He's ever so keen to meet the architect who's in charge of all the big jobs around here ... might be able to put some work his way."
"Thank you. I'll come if I can."
"And you'll bring Kinnear?" Johnny appeared strangely insistent on the point. He was tapping a sandalled foot impatiently.
"I'll ask him. That's the best I can do." Imagine David escorting her to a function at Johnny's request !
"Good girl," Johnny sounded relieved, "I knew I could leave it to you!"
She raised perplexed eyes. "It can't be all that important his coming . . . or me? Why do you want him?"
"I told you, I'm letting him in on my plans for the future.
It's what you wanted, isn't it? Besides —"
"You'd be surprised," Noeline cut in lightly. "Anyway, why don't you come along and find out for yourself? Come on, Johnny, the gang will be wondering where we've got to. We've got to get back." She linked a hand in his, threw a smile back over a thin shoulder that landed somewhere in Robyn's direction. "See you at the Lodge ! "
"Wait! Wait ! " Robyn ran into the shadows of the palms, clutching at Johnny's bare brown arm. But as he swung around she knew it was hopeless. It was useless pleading with him to stay. Instead she found herself saying, "It was very good of you to put all that art work my way. The contacts have led
to all sorts of other orders —"
"What art work ?" His voice held a puzzled note.
"You know, the commission from the big hotels for the
painted murals and hangings. I've really made a start now —"
"I don't get it. What the devil are you talking about?"
"It wasn't you, then? You didn't tell them ... about
me . . ." she faltered.
"I only wish I had, but I'm not guilty this time I Maybe it's your friend Kinnear. I told you he was a deep one —"
"Oh no!"
"Come on, Johnny," Noeline urged, "we're late as it is!" "Coming, honey. 'Bye, Rob, see you at the Lodge !"
"And don't forget to bring David Kinnear with you,"
Noeline added.
"Goodbye !" Robyn turned thoughtfully away and moved back towards the torchlighted lawns. She was still unable to take in what she had learned. Johnny was right, David was a deep one. But why had he done such a thing? He had nothing to gain by furthering her career. She simply couldn't understand him, but one thing she did know. She would have to thank him and it would take every bit of her courage to do it.
"That wasn't Johnny, was it?"
David stood at her side looking down at her and almost she made the mistake of letting him see the intense happiness he roused in her just by being there. "It was, but he's gone. He was with Noeline and they were in too much of a hurry to stay. He left a message for me to give you —"
His rueful grin was disturbingly correct. "He's not coming back to work for a while?"
"He said he'd let you know something definite about his plans in two weeks' time," she said stiffly. She hadn't intended telling him about the invitation. What was the use, he wouldn't be interested. But all at once she changed her mind, threw it over to fate. "He and Noeline, they want you and me too, to come to a party at the Lodge, in Suva, on Saturday week. Her family are putting it on. I wasn't going to bother telling you —"
"Why not, Rob?" His voice was very gentle. "Don't you like parties?"
"It's not that, but —"
"Me, then?"
Oh, he knew just how to confuse her so that she couldn't think straight about anything ... except his nearness. "You know it wasn't that. I just thought you wouldn't be interested—"
"That's where you're wrong, Rob. I take it you want to go — so we'll go together."
"But what about Maria ?" The words were out before she could stop them and at his cool enquiring glance she would have given a lot to recall them.
"I got the idea from what you said," he was as pleasant, as unconcerned as ever, "that the invitation was only for the two of us?"
She nodded.
"Well then ..."
"I didn't think you'd want —"
"I want a lot of things Rob ... like dancing with you . have you ever danced under the stars?"
He was pulling her along with his warm grasp, fingers linked, and a few moments later they were a part of the rhythmic colourful group moving on the green grass to the haunting music of the throbbing guitars. A cool breeze from the sea sent the palm trees whispering and stirred the greenery surrounding the blowing flares. It was all heady, intoxicating. It would be so easy to allow herself to forget Maria, dancing not far away with one of the guests, her lips curved in laughter. Why not? She had everything in the world she wanted, including David.
Moving in rhythm, Robyn summoned all her composure. "I just wanted to say vinaka . . . isn't that the word for `thanks'?"
"That's the word, Rob, but you'll have to interpret the meaning."
"About the orders for pictures," if she kept moving she needn't glance directly into his face, "I thought it was Johnny who'd recommended me to the hotel people, and all the time it was you!"
"That's right. Anything wrong with that?"
"No, no, only I wish you'd told me at the time. Why didn't you?"
"You know why, Rob."
"But I don't." She raised her glance. The way he was regarding her started the trembling inside her.
"Just that you weren't too crazy about me at the time. I got the idea you mightn't have done anything about it if you'd known I was behind it."
"But afterwards?"
"I was saving it."
"Saving it?"
"Uh-huh. Special occasion.. ." the easy smile.
"I don't know whenever that would be," she heard herself say, inanely, childishly. He was still looking at her in that unfathomable way. "Anyway," she murmured, "it doesn't matter now, does it?"
Before he could answer Maria came hurrying towards them across the grass. "David, the firewalkers are here. They're waiting under the trees by the pit until you're ready for them to start the performance." She ignored Robyn. It was a way of Maria's, and Robyn could never decide whether or not it was deliberate.
"Right, we're ready now! I'll go and have a word with the firewalkers. You get the crowd moving, will you, Maria? Sorry to have to rush away, Rob." He turned and vanished into a pool of darkness along the narrow track. If only, Robyn thought with a sigh, Maria hadn't happened along at that moment. Or had the interruption been entirely accidental? She would never know.
She had entirely forgotten Kevin until suddenly he was at her side. "Come on, Robyn, you're just in time for the firewalkers. Ever seen the performance?"
"No." Together they joined in the crowd moving into the shadows of a narrow pathway. She was relieved when a party of students came hurrying towards Kevin. Now she could be alone with her thoughts. It was David who was responsible for her success in the art world here in Fiji. She still couldn't believe it.
At the end of the track they turned into an old road where flares threw their fitful beams over the stony surface. Overgrown palms along each side of the road tossed in the trade winds, brushing the faces of the laughing, chattering groups who were moving towards the pits. When they came in sight of the glowing embers Kevin was surrounded by the student group and Robyn found herself for the moment alone. All at once a quiver ran along her nerves. Even before he spoke she was aware of him, that was the extent to which David filled her thoughts.
"Now they're preparing for the ones from Beqa." His voice was matter-of-fact and over the tumult of her heart Robyn was aware of colourful figures illuminated in the glow of the fires. A shower of sparks flew upwards as with long vines and sticks the natives raked away the glowing logs, leaving exposed smooth surfaces of flat stones heated to a white heat.
Then out of the darkness, shouting and chanting, came the
Fijian warriors in their bright skirts and swinging leis, muscular dark legs garlanded with beads and flowers.
"If you're a disbeliever, just take a look at their feet after the ceremony," David spoke beside her. "You won't see a burn or a blister." He was very close, his voice in her ear.
"It's incredible!" His nearness was making her pulses leap, filling her with a subtle excitement that had nothing to do with the ancient ritual.
As the party of firewalkers made their purposeful way towards the edge of the pits, Robyn found she was holding her breath. "David, they can't ! They'll be burned to death ! "
"They won't, you know. Don't ask me how it's done. Just watch and you'll see for yourself. You'll be seeing something not many Europeans have seen. Not many folk have seen the ancient ritual, and those who do experience a spectacle they never forget."
Fascinated, awed, unable to look away, Robyn watched as with no apparent effort a man strode over the white-hot stones. He was followed by others, walking singly and in pairs. The last man in the line of Fijian firewalkers was almost over the glowing stones when Robyn realised there was a sudden movement amongst the crowd watching on the opposite side of the pit. As the crowd parted she caught David's quick exclamation. "It's Maria! I told her not to come ! I was afraid this would happen!" He hurried towards the group on the opposite side of the glowing stones. Someone shone a torch and in the beam of light Robyn saw him lift the inert girl from the ground, then the two disappeared in the darkne
ss.
The ceremony over, the men who had trodden the white-hot stones dropped down to the scorched grass at the edge of the firelight. Cheerfully they raised for inspection the soles of feet quite unharmed and apparently unaffected by heat or burning. Other Fijians were chanting and singing as they tossed leaves and branches over the glowing stones, then covered them with sand.
"Hard to believe your eyes, isn't it?" Robyn became aware of Kevin's voice. He must have been in the jostling crowd close by her all the time, but, absorbed in the spectacle, and David, she hadn't realised he was there.
"Oh yes, it was worth coming to see!" They were turning away, moving with the groups strolling along the metalled roadway, in the direction of the main building. But already Robyn had forgotten the awe-inspiring spectacle, for something else tugged at her mind. Why had David endeavoured to keep Maria away from the ceremony of the firewalkers, and why had she dropped in a dead faint at the sight of the spectacle? Maria, who appeared to be the most confident of women, not one to collapse at sight of a native ritual, however awesome. She couldn't understand it. All she knew was that whether intentionally or otherwise somehow the other girl appeared to have an unhappy knack of ruining the rare moments Robyn had alone with David. In one way or another Maria always succeeded in drawing his attention away from Robyn and capturing it for herself. Or was she once again being uncharitable towards the other girl?
She couldn't understand Maria any more than she could fathom the reason why David had been instantly agreeable to accept an invitation to a celebration given by Noeline's parents. It was all quite beyond her. All she knew was that she was tired of being used by him as a convenient substitute for someone he really loved. Next time she would be stronger, she wouldn't allow herself to fall a victim to the stirring of her pulses — or the sense of his nearness that got under all her defences.
CHAPTER IX
SHE had no need to concern herself over "next time", however, Robyn told herself as the days passed and David did not return to the Islander. On three occasions she had overheard Maria ordering a taxi to take her to Suva and Robyn couldn't help the tide of jealousy that flooded her. For why would an efficient manageress leave the motel except for something, or rather someone, very important to her? More important even than her work here. But of course you would rather die than enquire as to what business drew the other girl on the long drive to Suva and back. Anyway, it was plain enough for anyone to see!